The 2010 Shanghai Expo opening ceremony (中国2010年上海世界博览会开幕式) occurred on April 30, 2010 at the Shanghai World Expo Cultural Center in Shanghai, People's Republic of China, a day before the opening of the Expo 2010.The opening ceremony was planned and designed by ECA2's founder, Yves Pepin. Pre-ceremony On April 29, 2010 General Secretary Hu Jintao of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) sat down with former Chairman Lien Chan of the Kuomintang in a pre-expo meeting. In the morning of April 30, the flags of 189 nations, 57 international organizations, the World expo bureau flag and the Shanghai expo flag were all raised at the expo venues. Outdoor opening fireworks The event began at 8:10 pm with a massive river side display of fireworks and lights. Indoor ceremony Leader entrances Chinese leader Hu Jintao enters Expo Culture center with many world leaders. Twenty foreign heads of state or government attended the opening ceremony: n President Serzh Sarkisyan n Prime Minister Hun Sen President Denis Sassou-Nguesso European Commission President José Manuel Barroso President Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife Carla Bruni ese President Ali Bongo Ondimba Prime Minister Karim Masimov n President Mwai Kibaki Kim Yong Nam, President of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea n President Lee Myung-bak an President Bingu wa Mutharika an President Amadou Toumani Touré President George Abela President Emanuel Mori n President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende President Mahmoud Abbas President James Alix Michel President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov ese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung In addition, speakers of legislative bodies, deputy heads, and ministers of over 20 other countries also attended the opening ceremony. Just a few hours before the opening ceremony, the Maltese President, George Abela suffered from an accident, which left his second Lumbar vertebrae slightly damaged. He was taken to the Ruijin Hospital in Shanghai, and therefore couldn't attend the ceremony. Chinese leader Hu Jintao paid him a visit at the hospital the following day. Hong Kong and Macau Special administrative region chief exec Donald Tsang and Fernando Chui both attended with a group of delegates. Presentations The song "Harmonious Gathering" (和谐欢歌) was performed by Hong Kong's Jackie Chan and PRC's Song Zuying. The PRC flag was raised, and the March of the Volunteers was played. Then the international bureau exposition flag was raised, and the expo song was played. This was followed by the raising of